It always fascinates that God would actually care so deeply about me, well, you too really. It really depends on the frame of mind I'm in as to which one I find more fascinating: That He loves me, or that He loves you. I hope that does not insult you, because I mean no harm by it. Some days I am just blown away by the fact that God, the creator of the universe would even tolerate us at all.

Some time back, as my family and I came home we passed what we thought was an automobile accident just seven tenths of a mile from our home. About an hour later I had to make my nightly trip to the grocery store. (I used to feel I was the only husband in the city of Tulsa who was summoned to make such a trip on an almost nightly basis. Until I began noticing the same men at the grocery store two or three times a week.) Anyway, as I approached that same intersection I had passed by less than an hour before, I saw the road was completely barricaded by police cars. As I got closer I noticed that all three of the local network television affiliates had their live news trucks out there. And there was a police helicopter circling overhead. It was then that I realized this was not just a simple car wreck.

It turned out that the driver of the car had been playing basketball in the local community center. A shoving match of sorts broke out between he and three other guys. When they left the three other guys followed him roughly five miles to that intersection, pulled up beside him and began shooting. They missed him, but shot and killed his 21-year-old wife. Leaving his four-month-old baby in a puddle of blood and robbing the young man of his wife and the baby of its mother. Over a basketball game! As repulsive as that story is, I am more repulsed with myself because of the fact that I was actually more than a little miffed at God because he would actually love and forgive those men for shooting that young lady. It's at times like these that I just shake my head at God. Then he reminds me that, "By grace are we saved through faith". To which my reply could range anywhere from, "Oh yeah, I forgot", to, "But, but, Father that's not fair! Didn't you see what he did? Are you blind God?" I think God's response might be: Bob, all I see is the blood of my son. Do you remember my grace, my forgiveness? Now, you act out my grace and forgiveness. I'd probably (and have before) stand there feeling and sounding like "Dauber" in the old TV sitcom "Coach". "Oh, okay" I would reply to God.

What is this grace stuff anyway? Well the classic response is "unmerited favor" and although that's a true definition I'd like to go a slightly different direction. Does grace give me the right to party now and repent later?" No, it gives you the strength to resist the temptation to party. What about lying to get a business deal and repent later? No, but you can count on God to give you favor in any business situation. Does it give us a license to sin? No, in fact the Apostle Paul said in Romans 6:1,2:

That being said let me say this: Grace cannot be used, as a license to sin, but God will gladly forgive you if you blow it. Those of you who are parents may find this easier to understand, because your children will often make the same dumb mistake over and over again. Do you only forgive them once, and tell them, "Now if you ever do that again I’m kicking you out of this house?" Certainly not! Well neither does our heavenly Father, but you usually make it clear though that you don't want them to do it again. Recently, I found my self in just such a situation. When I went to God in repentance, I felt as though I "heard" God say, "Son, your forgiven, but I don't want to ever have to forgive you for this again, do you understand?" It was just like I might do if I was disciplining one of my sons. I knew He had restored me to full fellowship with Him and that if I ever did need it, He would forgive me again, because I understand unconditional love.

I once heard a story about a minister that was tell of a situation in which he was coming to God to repent for something. He said, "God I'm coming to you to repent for this thing again. In fact God I think I'm coming to you for the 92nd time for the same thing. That's right Father this would is the 92nd time I've asked to forgive me of this same sin." He said God told him, "Son, in my mind this is only the first time you've brought this sin to me". When I heard that I thought, "Well yeah, because He throws our sins as far as the east is from the west". He says, He throws them into the sea of forgetfulness. All I can say is that sea must be deep. Because if it wasn't I could have filled it up by myself. Its fascinating to think that I/or anyone for that matter could ever question the validity of God's love and His grace in our lives, but I/we do.